Monday, March 30, 2015

Totally unexpected

My llama girl, Kai, is sick.
It has been fifteen days since I noticed the first symptoms. During this time, I've had two vets out - one small town vet and one llama specialist vet - and, despite the specialist vet, Dr. Jones, finding an acute ear infection, the treatment hasn't been effective and we have yet to help Kai feel better.

Dr. Jones has now recommended that I take Kai to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University, about an hour and a half away, for a full examination. OSU apparently has the only endowed professor in the United States specializing in Camelid medicine and Dr. Jones feels he (Dr. Cebra and his veterinary student team) will be able to give me a definitive diagnosis.

Kai's current status is that she continues to exhibit signs of pain, is listless and has - as of today - started refusing her beloved Mazuri llama pellets that she gets every morning for breakfast.

So here I sit now, waiting for Dr. Jones to call me and give me the thumbs up that Kai's case has been accepted at the university, at which point she and I will begin our journey south.

If you have any good thoughts and wishes to spare, my sweet girl could sure use them today.

26 comments:

Danni, Kai could have ulcers. You could start her on GastroGard (omeprazole) it comes in a syringe like Ivermectin does. Each click is for 50 pounds body weight. You should dose her daily for at least five days. Llamas are subject to stress. Stressed llamas get ulcers. Ulcers kill llamas. Kai is an only llama whose world has been upset with the arrival of your new donkey. This might be a response to that. Good luck and love to Kai.

I am praying now that you will have a safe trip and the doctors will find what is wrong and will be able to fix her up right away. prayers for peace of mind for you to... she is a beautiful girl and my heart hurts to think she is hurting. I forgot, i should also pray they accept her and do it now.

I love Kai so much, I am totally sending her my big big huge love. It is so hard when our creatures are ailing because they let us know they are out of sorts, but can't tell us exactly where it hurts or how they feel. Hugs to you too Danni

Sending oodles of good thoughts for everyone's favorite llama (and owner). Marty and Janet may be on to something re: sibling rivalry with Buttercup's arrival. Animals often are like small children and get very jealous when the parent's attention is diverted to someone else.

About Me

I am a self-proclaimed country girl who, until recently, was trapped in a city girl's life, spending her days (and nights) as a stressed-out high-tech professional. A life in the country is what I lead now - I finally get to be a farm girl for real...